Handel's Messiah Review - Bringing in the holidays with a classical performance as it was originally meant to be performed

On Sunday evening, Nov. 20^th,  the Fourth Presbyterian Church, located on Michigan Ave. across from the Johh Hancock building in Chicago, filled with the choral and instrumental classic of the season, Handel’s Messiah.   Alternating between the weaving of the Baroque melodies and the combined thrill of the unison chorus, the music cast its spell on the audience both in its sense of antiquity and the present thrill of experiencing it at that moment.   With texts from the Old and New Testaments, the alternation of major and minor keys highlights either the pathos or joy in the accompanying text. The Messiah is without question the most popular of Handel’s works and the most-performed choral work in the classical tradition.  Composed in London over a span of 24 days in 1741, it premiered in Dublin in 1742 and was first heard in London in 1743. 

Bella Voce, Chicago’s premier chamber choir and period instrument ensemble and the Callipygian Players joined together to perform Handel’s Messiah—all three parts—in this period-authentic production, the way Handel intended it to be performed. This was Chicago’s only complete period-instrument Messiah performed this season. 

Bella Voce, Chicago’s premiere professional chamber choir, is renowned for performing traditional and contemporary, sacred and secular choral music, which inspires and exhilarates its audiences.  It continues to honor the traditions that won this stellar choral group so many admirers and supporters over the years while also exploring new repertoire.

The Callipygian Players is an ensemble of Chicago's finest period-instrument musicians and singers under the leadership of director and Baroque violinist Martin Davids. The group presents innovative and exciting concerts of music from the Baroque era (approximately 1600-1750). Known for interesting programming, these concerts feature music of well-known composers as well as lesser-known masterpieces.

Andrew Lewis is artistic director of Bella Voce, music director of the Elgin Choral Union, founder and artistic director of The Janus Ensemble, a professional chamber orchestra specializing in Baroque and new music, choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, and is on the conducting faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also artistic director emeritus of the Lutheran Choir of Chicago and formerly taught conducting at DePaul University.  He has appeared as a guest conductor with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.  Lewis’ performances have been heard live on 98.7WFMT.

Martin Davids founded and directs the Callipygian Players, Chicago’s premier Baroque chamber music ensemble.  He is concertmaster of Bach Collegium of Ft. Wayne, Janus Ensemble, Reno Baroque Ensemble (NV), and the Bach Institute. He often gives master classes in performance practice and improvisation at many schools and universities including Northwestern.  He performs  on a beautiful Baropue violin by Ferdinando Alberti from 1750. 

Bella Voce Artistic Director Andrew Lewis explains, "Messiah has been a favorite of musicians and audiences since Handel's first performance of it in 1742. In fact, Handel performed it so often, adjusting the music to suit the musicians for almost every performance, that there are as many as ten distinct versions. We are thrilled to perform this great oratorio in its ideal, composite version, without cuts."

Upcoming season performances:

Holiday Delights featuring holiday music both traditional and Renaissance classics.

Saturday, December 10, 7:30 PM, St Procopius Abbey in Lisle IL

Sunday, December 11, 4:00 PM, St Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston 

Music of the Sistine Chapel featuring masterpieces by members of the esteemed Papal Chor, Europe's most prestigious musical ensemble of the Renaissance period.

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Saturday, March 17, 2012 7:30 PM, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, Chicago

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Sunday, March 18, 4:00 PM, Grace Lutheran Church, River Fores

Saturday, March 24, 7:30 PM, St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Evanston

Performances will feature music of the Sistine Chapel highlighting masterpieces by members of the esteemed Papal Choir, Europe’s most prestigious musical ensemble of the Renaissance period.

For information on future performances and to order ticker go to Bella Voce's website: http://bellavoce.org